Ready to Run Sale Graduate Gingernuts (NZ) Stars in Avondale Guineas

He cost only $42,500 at the 2015 Ready to Run Sale, but Gingernuts (NZ) (Iffraaj) has emerged as the latest racetrack star for Karaka’s perennial leading buyers Te Akau Racing with a last-to-first win in Saturday’s $100,000 Group 2 Retina Specialists Avondale Guineas (2100m) at Ellerslie.

Gingernuts earned more than his purchase price in one fell swoop, and he did it in remarkable style. Racing at stakes level for the first time in his six-start career, the gelding had to jump from the extreme outside draw in the 14-horse field. Making matters worse, he dwelt badly at the start and dropped out to be a distant last.

But it’s the position at the end of the race that counts, and rider Johnathan Parkes brought him through along the inside in the home straight to make his run. Gingernuts produced an enormous finishing burst, flying past his rivals and winning by a length and a quarter.

Now the winner of three of his six starts and more than $71,000 in prizemoney for the Te Akau Gingernuts Syndicate, Gingernuts is now likely to contest next month’s $1 million Group 1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m).

“David (Ellis) didn’t have pay a lot for him at the Ready to Run Sale, and that just goes to show that good horses come in all shapes and sizes,” co-trainer Jamie Richards said. “That was a serious win.”

Ellis, who recently clinched his 12th straight leading buyer title at the National Yearling Sales Series, was delighted with the result.

“What a thrill,” he said. “We were delighted to be able to buy this horse for less than $50,000 at the Ready to Run Sale, and he’s raced by a lot of good people. He’ll proceed to the New Zealand Derby, and on that win he’d have to be a great chance.”

Gingernuts was bred by Goodwood Stud, who offered him as a weanling at the 2014 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale where he sold to Phill Cataldo Bloodstock for $5,000. He returned to Karaka in Stainley Park’s draft at the Ready to Run Sale 18 months later, selling for $42,500.

Gingernuts is the second Ready To Run Sale graduate to win a major three-year-old race for Te Akau Racing this season. Hall Of Fame (NZ) (Savabeel) won last month’s Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham.